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Hudson Valley lawmakers are pushing forward with a proposed bill to change the state primary election date from Tuesday, Sept. 11 to Thursday, Sept. 13 to ensure that all parties are able to get to the polls.

Assemblymember Amy Paulin announced this week that she has voted to move the date, “out of respect for those who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as those celebrating Rosh Hashanah.

“Voting is our most important civic duty, and having consistency in our primary date is important to encourage participation. Nevertheless, in some years, it’s equally important to make an exception,” Paulin said.

“Although New York State law requires that the state primary election be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September, that date is problematic this year. For one thing, it’s the second day of Rosh Hashanah, one of the High Holy Days of the Jewish faith. For another, it is Sept. 11, a day that holds tremendous meaning for all New Yorkers.”

Paulin said that the bill unanimously passed in the Assembly, and is to be brought up quickly for a vote in the Senate.

“Sept. 11 will forever be a day of remembrance, a time to mourn our fellow New Yorkers whose lives were taken far too soon by an unforgivable act of terrorism,” she added. “It is also a day to honor the brave firefighters, EMTs and police officers who showed us the best of America during our darkest hours. Moving the primary election two days allows us to come together to show our respect to those who died and those who came to the rescue.”